Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-01-06

out her life 10 feed tho tempest 1nt
courthouse park became drilling
ground, and the trains thundered away
with hundreds Of her brave fellows
toward the scene Of conflict Some
came back thin and sick. some manned,
! and many never came. During those
bitter years not many letters were rc-
ccivcd from Absalom, but now and
then rurIor, sometimes grave and
sometimes laughable, came as II from
the far-Of battle-smoke, telling Of his
prowess and promotion. Ether worked
on at Joel Whitney's, but rs Joel exs
pressed IL, their cook was less crickety
than Of yore. In truth, the land was
bowed in s.ck-cloth and sorrow, but
outwardly at least Joels cheerfulness
was undated. He was gathering 10
himself deal of this worlds goods;
making money "hand-over-list," as he
occasionally told Mrs. Whitney with q
sort of gusto. This fact may have in
some sense smothered his patriotism.
II, indeed, his love of country went
much beyond his own concerns, for
acquisitiycness had grown with much
culture to be his leading trait. though
that no was misery, mean or greedy
|
not be fairly said Of him.
at isn't the destruction Of the Gov.
ernmcnt that's being attempted" ho
was wont to say. Its partition. a
division that's trying to be struck And
what's it aboutP Why, the Internal
nigger, that's ALL And who wants him?
Why, the fcllers down SouthP We
DON'T Then, confouud III why can't
they let 'eln have emp" and he would
90 about his affairs.
But il is surmisablc that Joel could
reason more 0ogently than this, shaving
the subject down very near To its mar
row in his mind but doubtless, seeing
with the wcll-nigh abnormal keenness
of his business instinct the thousand
! golden chances of the time, his finer
! sympathies were dwarfcd and swal-
lowed up in his opportunities. AT all
events, he throve wondrously; buying
not few farms about Opens.one dur
ing those years, and about the close OF
the war opening a hank in Openstone.
Also about this period he began to
identify himself with politics; grad
ually working himself toward tho
local leadership. IL was a little doubt
full whom his heart was wholly with,
for principles and moral tendencies
had never clung TO Joers feet sufii-
ciently to clog his progress much, be.
sides he was, as the term is usually
accepted. pre-cmincntly practical. and
aimed to be with the fellows who were
successful and had "thc sand as he
put it.
Promptly upon the morning OF his
fifteenth birthday, John Earling en-
tered Joels Office, and hanging his
cap upon the wall, stated that he was
ready for business. Joel turned his
large person about and looked at him
with inquisitive surprise. "Oh, yes,
remember" he said. "Well, so YOU
think you want to go to work, do
youP'
"Yes sir" said the boy.
Joel stretched out his legs and lean
ing back with half smile looked up
at the ceiling. Lets see, what did
you say the bargain wasp
81 am to work five years, SIR"
Joel looked at the boy. Don't you
want any pay?" he asked.
"Only some books, SIR"
Joel poised his watch-fob between
his thumb and finger and looked at it;
the boy regarded him steadily. Five
years" said Joel. that's one-third rs
long rs you've lived"
"Ycs sir. "
"And you don't want any thing but
some books?'
That is all SIR"
$50 you think you are in debt TO mep"
'Yes, sir, for myself entirely"
"Do you think five years Of work
will pay itP'
81 left that to you, sir. l Twill work
longer if you wish"
II guess five will do What do you
want to work atP''
Whatever you think l can do the
best"
"Well. they need more help in the
store. guess YOU can 20 in there
After John Earling had gone Joel
looked iiXcdly at the columns OF fig.
ures before him and shook his head.
It's sand. ~ he said, "but I'm afraid
it's mixed with iron. Hard to handle
I'm afraid!' and he shook his head
again.
Jocl's Office was double and built in
the right hand front Of his big retail
store. IL had been originally single
room, with long horizontal window
running its entire length looking in.
ward upon the store with perpendicular
windows looking out upon the street,
but Joels many affairs had caused him
to erect partition making a private
Office for himself opening into the
book k-kceper's room. Here the account
ant sat facing the interior through tho
long open window, where at any mo.
ment he might lift his eyes and witness
the workings Of the place. In the store
was well nigh every thing that could be
imagined; at least every description OF
merchandise demanded by the town and
surrounding country. lie place gave
employment to quite a number Of
statesmen, Opcnstone at that period
being the terminus Of the railway that
came IN from the east, and large
scope OF fertile land south and north
and west making the volume of busi.
ness considerable.
One morning, when John Earnings
task had progressed year or more.
upon coming to the long window with
the proceeds Of q salc--the book keeper
being also cashier--he looked up with
a sort OF spirit-shock as he met new
pair Of eyes. Very black were the
eyes; at least there seemed a slow
black fire burning back Of the pupils
giving that effect. Their owner was a
man Of medium height, rather pale and
thin, an almost unnaturally large head
and jutiing in front, a small weak nose
and thin nervous lips. His person was
scrupulously clad, and about him there
was an air Of indcscribable quiet. IL
did not seem, somehow, the quiet Of
peaceful self-possession, but rather a
sort OF pent-up agony or great pain